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Forums > Home› Star Trek Online General Discussion

Cryptic has taken out multiple dollars from my CC, then banned my account.

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
edited September 2023 in Star Trek Online General Discussion
I attempted, about twelve hours ago to input my game code, and sign up with my CC.

At first it failed, and I figured I'd wait a couple minutes and attempt again. (Maybe I put something in wrong??)

I attempted again. Same thing.

So on.

I have now checked my CC account online and I am missing a dollar for each time I attempted to sign up.

Oh. I am also banned (suspended?) from the game until I can enter my code.

The following is the ticket I entered, but I keep hearing to make a forum post, with the info, just in case.

(I removed a couple things from the quote)
I have attempted multiple times to use my Credit Card to set up an account, each time the StarTrekOnline.com website states that it cannot finish account set-up.

I have now been banned / suspended from playing the game and you have taken multiple dollars out of my account. One for each attempted authorization.

Each charge is listed as

Purchase CS CHAMPIONS ONLINE 408-399-1969 US -1.00

with different time-codes.

I require this to be fixed and will be making a "Thread" on the "Forum".

Please respond either here, or in e-mail at (my@email)

Thank you.
~Name
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on
«1

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Its scary when MMO's can take money from you so easily before the monthly sub is even due. That is not right.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I'm pretty sure the charges you mentioned are just authorization charges, meaning that you'll be refunded within a few days. (Happens to me all of the time.)

    I was having trouble with activating my account. It took several attempts, but I finally activated my code.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    it happent to me with paypal.
    missing 1 pound.
    They never said anything about that payment
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    i also made numerous attempts yesterday to register my code until it worked but no charges ...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    wierd

    what type of subscription method did you enter ?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    kalisha wrote:
    I'm pretty sure the charges you mentioned are just authorization charges, meaning that you'll be refunded within a few days. (Happens to me all of the time.)

    I was having trouble with activating my account. It took several attempts, but I finally activated my code.

    Yeah, they should be authorization charges.

    But they're usually listed as such.

    Also, those shouldn't have come out, as the company said my card was declined.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    darkape wrote: »
    wierd

    what type of subscription method did you enter ?

    The 14.99 $.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    have you thought about picking up the phone and calling Customer service, doing so and explaining the situation in a reasonable and calm manner usually gets the desired result, if in case it dosnt then talking to your CC company about the unwarrented charges also works...one thing that dosnt usually work is postting on game forums seeking sympathy from internet users.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I mean : did you pay through paypal, credit card or timecard ? did you enter your credit card number each time ?

    there is always the possibility of a bug in the process of your applications. So far, no one else has complained about it ...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    waveslayer wrote: »
    have you thought about picking up the phone and calling Customer service, doing so and explaining the situation in a reasonable and calm manner usually gets the desired result, if in case it dosnt then talking to your CC company about the unwarrented charges also works...one thing that dosnt usually work is postting on game forums seeking sympathy from internet users.

    Customer service is currently closed. it is 3 in the morning there.

    Same with my CC company.

    I have put in a ticket though.

    and they have said to attempt finding a solution on the forums.

    Thank you for your interest though.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    darkape wrote: »
    I mean : did you pay through paypal, credit card or timecard ? did you enter your credit card number each time ?

    there is always the possibility of a bug in the process of your applications. So far, no one else has complained about it ...


    Oh, I apologize, I stated in my original post that I used a Credit Card, so I assumed you meant which monetary value I chose.

    I re-entered my CC info each time, assuming I must have entered it incorrectly.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    It almost certainly is the authorization charge. Paypal did the same when I attempted to validate my debit card with them, they withdrew £1 from my bank account and then rebated it to my Paypal account three days later.

    Someone tried to sign up to my webhost via Direct Debit a while back, and complained. I had to call Lloyds TSB about it, and apparently the score is this: financial institutions don't allow a Direct Debit to be set up without a charge being made, in order to establish the legitimacy of both accounts and register the debit in the system. This initial test charge is always to be rebated - regulators don't let the banks keep it.

    (Personally, in the end I just removed the DD option from my host and now take payments exclusively through Paypal. That's not exactly an option for a multinational though.)

    As for why this was done multiple times, I dare not venture a guess. Perhaps it processed itself once for each time the form was submitted? If so, I would definitely get on the phone to customer services and get this sorted as soon as possible (and remember the golden rule - be courteous, rational and polite; you're dealing with a real living person, not Sooty and Sweep), because you may well have set up multiple Direct Debits.

    Totally remember the golden rule though. After all, blaming Cryptic for the global economic banking model is a bit of a stretch, even for this community's ridiculous scapegoating rationale. :p


    This should not have happened at all for those who chose the Paypal option, as money is taken by electronic credit transfer as opposed to bank debit.

    Perhaps the Paypal option is set up the same way as the debit option, but then again, I haven't had a penny taken from Paypal, the last withdrawal transaction that shows is Steam billing me for the DDE last week.

    I dunno on that count, you really should be asking Paypal about it rather than Cryptic, because it sounds like a real goof on Paypal's end if a direct debit is being registered through them.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    just to clarify it isn't cryptic taking those 1 dollars, but the company they use for CC processing, or your CC provider itself.

    It is a security feature, that either your CC provider uses, or the CC processor for the company.

    After a week, your bank should automatically void the charges and place them back into your account, if the CC processor hasn't done so already.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I'm getting some mixed responses.

    I used a Credit Card. Not Pay-Pal.

    I cannot call anyone yet, as no where in the USA is open yet.

    I made a forum post, because we've been told to do so.

    I made a ticket, which I'll wait until noon, in their time zone, to call about.

    I understand the $1 each time is an "AUTHORIZATION" charge (which gets returned within a couple days), but it was posted as an actual payment on my account.

    I shouldn't have been charged (or see any loss, weather returned later or not) as Cryptic (or its subsidiaries or offshoot company or company it uses or person they talk to) denied my set-up.

    and lastly I should not have been banned (or suspended) from the game, at all.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    You have not been banned or suspended. Until you enter a valid form of subscription and a retail key, you dont have access to that account. Once you have entered all details correctly, you can go into your account info and remove the billing info if you want, so you wont get billed after your 30 free days.

    When you remove the info or cancel yoru account, you have two options presented to you. You may either cancel the account and forfeit all remaining time ( meaning accoutn is closed immediatly until you enter new billing info), or you can choose to cancel and play the remaining time without fear of being rebilled.

    They havent taken multiple dollars out or banned you. The removal of dollars is dont by the billing company and your CC provider to ensue the legality of the transaction, and to make sure that card number is real.

    Just wait till normal office hours in the U.S and contact biling to sort everything out. Just remember to stay calm, as it looks like your stressing yourself out.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Nevermind...I see that it's been covered by others.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    kalisha wrote:
    I'm pretty sure the charges you mentioned are just authorization charges, meaning that you'll be refunded within a few days. (Happens to me all of the time.)

    I was having trouble with activating my account. It took several attempts, but I finally activated my code.



    ^this


    10chars
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    MMOsAreDead wrote: »
    Its scary when MMO's can take money from you so easily before the monthly sub is even due. That is not right.

    No not just MMO anything that Check's your credit Card Take's 1 dollor that u get back in 2 day's and yes if u do it 12 time's they Charge u 12 time's That is of corse your fault. I'm not saing I nv did it because I did when I enter my new Card to buy a couple pack of cards for SWG TCG. But this should be common sense or at least if you Read the Ver.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    glad I am a lifer....
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If you can't read any of my posts, please don't respond.

    I've stated multiple times that I know it is supposed to be an authorization.

    I know that it happens (almost) every time you use a CC, ANYWHERE.

    etc. etc.

    If you don't have anything helpful to say, please don't say anything.

    Your comments are starting to become rude and useless and I'm going to start reporting them for one or all of the following.

    Spam: repeating the same useless info

    Troll: randomly responding without reading my posts.

    Rude: "It is your fault"

    Thanks for your interest.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    recomend you PM a moderator, they can prob give you a direct way
    to get ahold of accounting to straighten it out.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    azsmodeus wrote: »
    If you can't read any of my posts, please don't respond.

    I've stated multiple times that I know it is supposed to be an authorization.

    I know that it happens (almost) every time you use a CC, ANYWHERE.

    etc. etc.

    If you don't have anything helpful to say, please don't say anything.

    Your comments are starting to become rude and useless and I'm going to start reporting them for one or all of the following.

    Spam: repeating the same useless info

    Troll: randomly responding without reading my posts.

    Rude: "It is your fault"

    Thanks for your interest.

    So the only real problem you are having is that you are not able to activate your subscription.

    This worked for me with CO (although discovered by mistake). Use the "gametime card" option instead of CC. Leave the gamecard key box blank and hit cancel or submit. With CO it activated the key and 30-days but I had to enter CC information later inorder for it to continue the subscription after the 30-days. This may have been fixed though but worth a shot to at least get you in game.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Call Customer Service. They will rectify this.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    account supspended means not banned...
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    You account is not banned, its suspended. it will activate the moment your credit card goes through the registration.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    There is a thread for billing issues.

    The dollar being taken out is a standard practice and has been discussed many times on this forum.

    You don't seem to be doing anything wrong, mean, or bad, it looks to be more like a simple server glitch on their side and should be repaired once brought fully to their attention.

    Since you posted out here rather than in the official billing issues thread, it may take a little longer to rectify.

    Hope things work out for you in a timely manner!
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    DanaDark wrote: »
    There is a thread for billing issues.

    The dollar being taken out is a standard practice and has been discussed many times on this forum.

    You don't seem to be doing anything wrong, mean, or bad, it looks to be more like a simple server glitch on their side and should be repaired once brought fully to their attention.

    Since you posted out here rather than in the official billing issues thread, it may take a little longer to rectify.

    Hope things work out for you in a timely manner    !

    That thread was for specific billing issues, which got fixed
    Rekhan wrote:
    Our payment provider has resolved the difficulties they were experiencing, and everyone should now be able to enter their keys and activate their copies of Star Trek Online!

    It seems you just.. read right past ALL of my previous posts.

    Thanks for this last part.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Fatherfungus wrote: »
    recomend you PM a moderator, they can prob give you a direct way
    to get ahold of accounting to straighten it out.

    Any idea which moderator? I've tried using PM to reach a mod previously and still haven't gotten anything back from them.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Hope you get this sorted out.

    Website acted funny on my first attempt (similar to your story), but it worked my second attempt.

    The Banning part is what confuses me :(
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    varesir wrote:
    it happent to me with paypal.
    missing 1 pound.
    They never said anything about that payment

    actually its common practice on everything you set up... its a authorization charge to ensure the payment method is correct, but you are usually refunded the amount a couple days later, so companies tend not to mention that it will happen
This discussion has been closed.